GSW owners: protect your cylinder heads!

Hey all. Just thought I'd share a little incident. I have a shiny new 2014 GSW with only 1000 miles on it. Crash bars and head proctors are on my to-buy list but I haven't purchased them yet. I was parked outside a restaurant in my neighborhood tonight and a car backed into my bike and knocked it over. Came out to see the bike lying in a pool of oil. The driver was very apologetic and all information was exchanged. I don't want to say too much until all the insurance dust settles, but suffice to say that, among other things, the left cylinder head cover was cracked and had leaked a good sized puddle of oil in the couple minutes the bike was down. Apparently these head covers are fragile!

The moral of the story is this: If you are wavering about getting protection for your cylinder heads on your shiny new GSW, don't hesitate. Even if you never plan to leave the pavement, one little tip over can ruin your night.

The moral of the story is this: If you are wavering about getting protection for your cylinder heads on your shiny new GSW, don't hesitate. Even if you never plan to leave the pavement, one little tip over can ruin your night.

engine guards will be my next purchase!

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For a 'crash' like that the TT cilinderheadcovers (or something simular) work perfectly. They deform a little and absorb the energy. but after a decent drop you can replace them.

Word is the new Machine Art Moto valve cover protectors should be available in spring, I'd wait for those personally as all bets are off when a 4k + pound vehicle knocks over a bike,....not your typically fall over.

The cylinder heads on the R are certainly vulnerable to even mild tip overs. I know that are bikes can certainly get farkled to death, but engine guards and cylinder guards seem a wise investment to me.

TT cylinder head guards. I have the Alt Rider lower crash bars and plan to add the upper bars this winter.

I commend the cage driver who injured your bike. I was sitting in a restaurant a couple of weeks ago and watched a woman back into my pickup as she parked her car. No damage but careless, though possibly accidental. She never even stopped to look and see if there was any damage. C'est la vie.

did a fight ensue with the said car driver ? Does he need to consume all his food through a straw now ?

More information please

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These things can't be allowed to happen.

I hope you negotiated several nights with his super-model girlfriend as part of the restitution...yes, more info...photos of the other driver and his girlfriend, photo of his car and the restaurant. Was he impaired? Were the police called? Was he strip searched, cavity searched?

What did he have for dinner?

Hope the repair parts are in country, no, on the planet. Is there a repair estimate?

I'd say it was good it was an honest and ethical driver who stuck around and exchanged info...

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Indeed. The driver was a good fella who handled his mistake honorably.

When some one stuck their head in the door of the place we were eating at and mentioned a bike had just been knocked over outside, I dashed out like a bat out of hell expecting to have to deal with someone trying to flee the scene. But all was well - except for the bike of course.

I'm hoping to get the repairs done this weekend (keeping fingers crossed) and that there is no subtle damage that is not so visible. I'm having the local dealer give a thorough inspection. They should remember it - it was just in for its 600 mile break in service last week!

This is just one of the reasons I got the GSA instead of the GS. I knew I would have to get the guards that come with the GSA anyway. Glad to hear the culprit was an honest culprit. Good luck with the fix.

Indeed. The driver was a good fella who handled his mistake honorably.

When some one stuck their head in the door of the place we were eating at and mentioned a bike had just been knocked over outside, I dashed out like a bat out of hell expecting to have to deal with someone trying to flee the scene. But all was well - except for the bike of course.

I'm hoping to get the repairs done this weekend (keeping fingers crossed) and that there is no subtle damage that is not so visible. I'm having the local dealer give a thorough inspection. They should remember it - it was just in for its 600 mile break in service last week!

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Good! Let's hope this bike has paid it's dues and goes on to live a healthy, uninjured life!